Viktor Vasnetsov started painting since childhood. While studying at the Vyatka Theological Seminary, he not only made sketches of portraits of his friends, but also was also fond of sketches of folk types. He was even commissioned by the collector of Russian folklore Ivan Trapitsyn to illustrate an album of proverbs and sayings.
In 1867, Vasnetsov decided to become an artist, left his studies at the seminary and, with the blessing of his father, went to study at the Imperial Art Academy in Saint Petersburg. There, Vasnetsov also worked actively in the field of graphics, and drew illustrations for books and magazines. Viktor Vasnetsov created his first significant painting ‘The Poor Singers’ while still a student at the Academy, but had worked on it in Vyatka. In August 1871, after taking a break from his studies, he came home to improve his health and help his younger brothers after the loss of their father. During this period, he not only actively worked on paintings and sketches for future works, but also on the canvas ‘The Poor Singers’.
The plot of the painting had been conceived long ago. Back in 1867, a very lively watercolor painting was made depicting a group of singing beggars. During his stay in Vyatka, Vasnetsov created a work and showed it at the permanent exhibition of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists in Saint Petersburg. He captured a scene that is very characteristic of Russian villages and small provincial towns. On a cloudy autumn day, a group of parishioners gathered at the church fence to listen to blind beggars singing spiritual songs. Everything here is true and sincere. The artist carefully worked out the faces, gestures, and the postures of people, in which it is easy to read the individual attitude of the listeners to the singing beggars. The vitality of the images is not accidental, since the painting is a sort of remembrance of the artist’s childhood, youthful impressions, and deep thoughts about the plight of the Russian people.
The painting attracted attention with its authenticity. The singing beggars are its center and the listeners lively group around them. In the painting “The Poor Singers”, the author showed observation and ability to give a true image of provincial life in a complex multi-figured composition. This was Viktor Vasnetsov’s first major painting, and the press received it warmly. The weekly art magazine ‘Pchela’, noted the ‘remarkable ability of the artist to grasp folk types’, and characterized him as ‘an original and prolific talent.’
In 1867, Vasnetsov decided to become an artist, left his studies at the seminary and, with the blessing of his father, went to study at the Imperial Art Academy in Saint Petersburg. There, Vasnetsov also worked actively in the field of graphics, and drew illustrations for books and magazines. Viktor Vasnetsov created his first significant painting ‘The Poor Singers’ while still a student at the Academy, but had worked on it in Vyatka. In August 1871, after taking a break from his studies, he came home to improve his health and help his younger brothers after the loss of their father. During this period, he not only actively worked on paintings and sketches for future works, but also on the canvas ‘The Poor Singers’.
The plot of the painting had been conceived long ago. Back in 1867, a very lively watercolor painting was made depicting a group of singing beggars. During his stay in Vyatka, Vasnetsov created a work and showed it at the permanent exhibition of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists in Saint Petersburg. He captured a scene that is very characteristic of Russian villages and small provincial towns. On a cloudy autumn day, a group of parishioners gathered at the church fence to listen to blind beggars singing spiritual songs. Everything here is true and sincere. The artist carefully worked out the faces, gestures, and the postures of people, in which it is easy to read the individual attitude of the listeners to the singing beggars. The vitality of the images is not accidental, since the painting is a sort of remembrance of the artist’s childhood, youthful impressions, and deep thoughts about the plight of the Russian people.
The painting attracted attention with its authenticity. The singing beggars are its center and the listeners lively group around them. In the painting “The Poor Singers”, the author showed observation and ability to give a true image of provincial life in a complex multi-figured composition. This was Viktor Vasnetsov’s first major painting, and the press received it warmly. The weekly art magazine ‘Pchela’, noted the ‘remarkable ability of the artist to grasp folk types’, and characterized him as ‘an original and prolific talent.’
